Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from DC Comics via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | GoodreadsTitle:Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss ChroniclesAuthor: Mark Russell Artist: Mike FeehanRecent Release Date: August 28, 2018Synopsis:Heavens to Murgatroyd! Hanna-Barbera’s very own Snagglepuss is reimagined in a brand-new series, EXIT STAGE LEFT: THE SNAGGLEPUSS CHRONICLES, by author Mark Russell (THE FLINTSTONES)!It’s 1953. While the United States is locked in a nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union, the gay Southern playwright known as Snagglepuss is the toast of Broadway. But success has made him a target. As he plans for his next hit play, Snagglepuss becomes the focus of the House Committee on Un-American Activities. And when powerful forces align to purge show business of its most subversive voices, no one is safe!

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Review: Mark Russell does an excellent job of putting a new spin on older properties. His Flinstones comic series was excellent and now he tackles another Hanna Barbera property: Snagglepuss. This comic takes place in Washington D.C. in 1953 at the height of the Communism scare. Russell manages to tell a historical, yet timely story. There are references to many cultural points such as Stonewall and Marilyn Monroe, but all through a modern lens. This is not a children's comic book. There are some very adult themes. Huckleberry Hound's re-imagining is tragic. The raid at Stonewall is so damn emotional. The struggle between Capitalism and Communism is shown. Everything in this comic is dark and deep. There's also a historical glossary at the end of the volume.This story is excellently written. I can't wait to see what classic character or series Russell tackles next. It is very strange to think of the source material after reading this book. I give this graphic novel a 5/5. --PAUL